Airspace around Ballina Byron Gateway Airport now includes Class D and Class C controlled airspace.
Air traffic control services operate daily from 7 am to 8 pm local time.
Before you fly in the Ballina region
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Check the updated airspace information
Review the updated:
- Gold Coast visual terminal chart (VTC)
- En Route Supplement Australia (ERSA)
- relevant Aeronautical Information Package (AIP) publications
- Learn where the new control zone and associated controlled airspace is, along with visual flight rules (VFR) approach points and checkpoints. Ensure you know how to use them.
- If you operate a drone, check a CASA-verified drone safety app before you fly. It shows where you can fly and if you need approval.
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Update your flight planning tools
- Update your electronic flight bag (EFB), charts, databases and any physical copies before you fly.
- Allow time for updates to sync and check they are available offline.
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Confirm transponder requirements
- Check your aircraft is equipped and you can operate the transponder before you fly around Ballina.
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Plan before your flight
- Check NOTAMs, AIP SUPs, AICs and Ballina aerodrome ERSA entry.
- Plan your correct route, altitude and radio calls.
- Know how to submit a flight plan or flight notification if operating in Class C or Class D airspace – you may be delayed in the air if you don’t do this before you fly.
Summary of changes
There is new controlled airspace around Ballina Byron Gateway airport.
Airspace changes
- Ballina control zone (CTR) is from surface to 1,500 ft, extending to 7 nm from the airport reference point (ARP) in line with runway directions and approximately 4 nm laterally, parallel to the runway.
- Class D airspace steps extend to 20 nm from Ballina and up to 4,500 ft.
- Class C airspace lower limit is 4,500 ft.
- Detailed information can be found in AIP Supplement H80/26.
Flight paths
- Six arrival flight paths (Standard Instrument Arrivals or STARs) and 3 departure flight paths (Standard Instrument Departures or SIDs) have been introduced.
- When the Evans Head military restricted area (RA) is active, flight paths through the RA cannot be used.
VFR approach points and check points
- New VFR approach points have been introduced: Abeam Suffolk Park (ASFK) and Newrybar (NEWB) from the north, Clunes (CLUN) and Wollongbar (WOBR) from the west, Coraki (CORK) and Broadwater (BROD) from the south.
- New VFR check points have been introduced: Lake Ainsworth (LAWT), Epic Farm (EPFM), Boral Quarries (BORQ), Breakwater (BRAK), Burns Point Ferry (BURN), Saltwater (SALT), Everlong (EVLO) and Dalwood (DALW).
Lismore Airport
- Standard Instrument Departures (SIDs) at Lismore Airport have been introduced.
9 Jul 2026